Meanderings and activities of Steve and Janet and their ever growing family: 16 adults and 26 children

The Energizer Cowboys who kept things humming at the reunion

These kids know how to have fun!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Israel--All roads go Up to Jerusalem--Oct. 12

The Holy City of Jerusalem: Sacred to Jews and Muslims alike

Ashdod was our first port in Israel. It has replaced Tel Aviv as the the key port. After boarding our bus, and picking up our guide we went "up" to Jerusalem a journey of about 30 miles. I wish we'd had more time in for visiting more sites from the Bible. Though I do remember Harold B. Lee talking to us a missionaries in 1964 about his visit to the Holy Land, and all the things he'd seen, and then saying, "But where I really learned to know Christ was in reading the scriptures." So with that in mind, I know this experience will give us a better context as we re-read the scriptures now.

Jewish cemetery is on the East side of the Kidron valley, Muslim's are on the West side. To show respect and remembrance of loved ones, visitors place stones on the graves.

Notice how expansive the walls around Old Jerusalem are. Now you know why they had somany gates into the city. The walls as they exist today were built by Suleyman the Great,who oversaw their construction between 1537 and 1542

Looking West to site of Herod's Palace

The backup of traffic on the hill was caused by Miltary

checks due to Iran's treats the previous day. The grey dome marks where some believe Golgatha was. Others believe it is near the Garden tomb.

Dome of the Rock (Gold dome) encloses the sacred rock upon which Abraham

prepared to sacrifice his son, thus is sacred to Christians and Jews. The Muslims

also view it as sacred and as the site where the Prophet Mohammed was translated

into heaven...to take his place alongside Allah. The dome was built between 688 and 691.

For Jews and Christians, the gold dome is marks the site of the Holy Sepulcure, which is also over King David's palace.

This point was a beautiful site for viewing most of Jerusalemwhich is a city of hills and valleys.

Looking south over the Jewish cemetery into the Kidron Valley

Damascus Gate--One of the most impressive structures of Islamic architecture in Jerusalem. This is also the busiest and most photogenic of all the gates

We walked up the hill to the Damascus Gate

We entered through this gate to go into the Old City Bazaar.

Our trek through the Arab Old City of Old Jerusalem

There was much to see, but no time to shop, look, or veer from the path...though many enticements beckoned. These vendors weren't as aggressive as the Arabs in Egypt.

The Old City is a densely packed labyrinth of more than 100 streets, 1,000 shops and stalls, and 3,000 years of human experience. Via Dolorosa is the same paving stones that were there at the time of Christ.

There were all kinds of wonderful things to see and buy, but we had
no time to shop..It would have been easy to get lost, and we formed a
long line "following the leader."

Our destination: The Wailing Wall/ Western Wall

In stark contrast to the gaudy magnificence of the Dome of the Rock, the Western Wall is a bare stone wall. However, it is still one of the most captivating places in all Jerusalem. The wall is regarded as the most holy of all Jewish sites and became a place of pilgrimage during the Ottoman period, when Jews would come to mourn and lament their ancient loss. This destruction of Jerusalem was foretold by prophets Jeremiah, Zacharia, Isaiah, in the Old Testament and by Lehi in the Book of Mormon. Lehi's family left Jerusalem in 600 BC because of the wickedness of the House of Israel, and their doomed fate.

Our traveling companions were Ethel Gottfredson and KC BenedictWe're on the women's side of the wall

Prayers and messages to God are still stuck in cracks in the wall.

We were all able to approach the wall for a moment of prayer. There is a wall that separates men and women at the "wailing" wall.

This next picture shows the original steps leading to Herod's Palace, which was on the south edge of the city wall. The BYU JerusalemCenter is on the hill to the west overlooking the Old City and Temple Mound

Leaving the Western Wall

Leaving through the Eye of a Needle (which has been enlargedsince the time of Christ.)

Along the outside of the wall are many burial crypts.We walked along these as we climbed back up thehill to meet the bus.

On the hillside east of the Old City is the BYU Jerusalem Center

Lunch and shopping--not much time for either

Jimmy's Olive shop where Jew and Mormon alike

can find their favorite heroes and religious carvings.

Jimmy also sells to the San Juan Record and has

beautiful Nativity Scenes.

The Chipmans from Farmington, NM

The Garden Tomb--one of two sites where Christ may have been buried

Wine press used long ago

Looking down at the Garden Tomb

Janet coming out of the burial tomb

One of the sites where it is believed Christ was buried in the tomb

Inside St. Gabriel's Church--Near Mary's Well

St. Gabriel's Church of the Annunciation of Mary, where she learnedshe was chosen to be the mother of Christ.

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Visits on the Mesa

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Some of the cute grandkids at the Ririe Reunion

Mattea & Peyton color coordinated

Reunion Pioneers

Gannon is a boy on the go!

Jaxon looking for more rocks

The kids loved throwing rocks into the pond

2005 babies growing up

Hunter, Sam, Mattea, and Hailey will be in 2nd grade this fall

Ryan and his girls

Family stop at the Snake River outlook

Sam's off on another adventure

Michael and Daniel

Looking for a new adventure on the ranch

Logan and Anthony

At the top of Antelope Granary Hill

Milk Can Cowgirl, Hailey

Hinckley gets a sky view from Dad

Hinckley's walking buddy

Hinck loves his Grandpa

Matthew needs agua!

Grandpa's Buddy

So Happy to Have Ryan Lemuel Here

Born June 7, 2012 about 3:30 PM

Welcome to the Family --Lawsyn Margaret

Birthday June 25, 2012

Isabella Felice Brings Happiness

Born May 9, 2012

24th of July Celebrators

Nathan and Tammy's Cowboy Crew

Isabella's first reunion at 7 weeks old!

Chris and Pam's family 2012

Just missing CJ

Quent & Bev's Family Ready to Celebrate the 4th

We had a good visit with the Arizona gang after we got home from the reunion

When Daddy (Quent) was a little boy

Autumn and Theron's family

When Mommy was a little girl

Andrew and Amy's family

Quent and Bev's family

Enthralled by Bubbles

Brig learned new tricks at the reunion

A Mud Bath for Logan

G-r-r-r-r reat Stories by and about Grandkids

Past stories have been transferred to the next edition of Rough Rock Writers....Please send Grandma and Grandpa some more stories. These will be the perfect gifts for the next dozen or so years for any occasion! They don't need to be dusted, have no calories, and bring us a lot of joy each time we read them.

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Note from Peyton's teacher: 2/11/2012

Autumn,I really appreciate your support! Peyton is such a good girl! I saw her praying before the spelling test last week, and I thought it was so sweet! She also was the only one in that class this week that got a 10/10. Way to go, Peyton!!Thanks again for everything,Mrs. Rager7/7/2011

Travis's first real word is officially "ball" and it applies to anything round: watermelons, suction cups, and of course, balls of all shapes and sizes.

1/11/2011

This was on Autumn's FB post today: "I went into Peyton's room to wake her up this morning, before I could even say anything she popped her head out from under the blanket and said, "Actually, I need to finish my dream!"

12/5/2010

The night before traveling north for the family party I had stayed up all the night trying to render a DVD of our Mediterranean trip, but to no avail. When we arrived at Autumn's I was telling her what happened, and how tired I was, and I'm sure I looked it as well.

I'd forgotten little kids have big ears, and in the blessing that day for dinner, Peyton, added to the prayer, . . ."And bless grandma that she will Never, Never, never stay up all night again."

Anthony posted 11/19/2010 on Facebook

It's a good thing my little girl isn't sensitive yet. When Santa went to pick her up he said, "Man, she's stout!" Then she dazzled Santa even more by asking for a cactus for Christmas. I think I can afford that on a student budget, especially since Sam asked for a duck. Its nice to have kids that are easy to shop for.